Former principal at SAISD tech school sues over her firing

Kelly Isbell listens at an information session for middle school girls last March about CAST Tech High School, a partnership between SAISD, H-E-B and other local companies. Isbell was principal of the school, which will open this month with a focus on technology and entrepreneurship, but was abruptly fired and is suing the school district, her replacement and a consultant who she alleges conspired to have her removed.

Kelly Isbell listens at an information session for middle school...

Kelly Isbell, who was fired in May from her position as founding principal of a tech-themed early college high school that opens Monday, has sued the San Antonio Independent School District, the principal who replaced her and a consultant who works for the school on behalf of tech industry partners.

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The suit, filed here Tuesday in state district court, claims Isbell was fired as part of a power play by the consultant, Jeanne Russell, and the new principal, Melissa Alcala.

Isbell helped create the Design and Technology Academy at Roosevelt High School and worked for the Alamo Colleges’ educator preparation program as a field supervisor before SAISD hired her in December to lead and help design CAST Tech, the first in a network of career-focused high schools created with H-E-B funding.

Isbell was hired under a probationary contract that could be ended if the SAISD board determined it “serve(s) the best interests of the District.” On May 9, the day after trustees voted to terminate the contract, the district notified Isbell by letter that it would take effect June 30. Isbell’s lawyer, Austin-based Terry P. Gorman, said she was never given any further reason and her firing was unwarranted.

The suit claims Russell and Alcala conspired to execute a “coup” to replace Isbell, who is seeking more than $1 million in damages from Russell, Alcala and Russell’s business, Mission Street Consulting.

Russell, a former San Antonio Express-News reporter and editor, is married to former state Rep. Mike Villarreal. She is paid to support CAST Tech’s development on behalf of an advisory committee of local tech industry representatives.

Isbell had worked to secure in-district charter status and a startup grant for the new school, helped develop its curriculum, worked to renovate its space at Fox Tech High School, recruited students and collaborated with industry partners on the school’s technology.

Russell also denied the allegations, saying, “I never met Melissa Alcala until after she was hired.”

On the morning of April 20, Russell emailed Isbell asking about matters on Isbell’s schedule that day, the lawsuit states. Later that day, SAISD administrators suspended Isbell, effective the following day. Gorman said Isbell was told her contract would be terminated, but not why. Isbell received nothing in writing when placed on paid administrative leave, Price said.

During the meeting, Toni Thompson, the associate superintendent for human resources, asked whether Isbell had communicated with Russell about the cancellation of meetings with industry partners that had been scheduled for that afternoon, according to the lawsuit.

The district posted a job opening for Isbell’s replacement April 21 and closed the posting May 8, hours before the board voted to fire her.

During the public comment portion of the May 8 board meeting, Isbell told trustees, “I would ask you to see any evaluations about me because I never received any. I’ve not received a single email across this entire year or letter that says that I’ve ever done anything poorly. … So I would ask you to recognize the challenges of politics in this particular situation.”

The district announced Alcala’s hiring on May 15. She was then the director of the STEM Academy magnet school in North East ISD.

“All of that is evidence of people preplanning a course of events,” Gorman said.

The district denied a grievance Isbell filed challenging her termination, and denied her appeal. At both hearings, she asked why she was fired and got no answer, Gorman said. Isbell plans to ask the board for a hearing, the third stage of the grievance process, he said.